Jane has reached the dark night of her soul. Leaving the carriage that has brought her to Whitcross, Jane has nothing but the clothes she’s wearing. Before beginning the final section of her journey of self-discovery, Jane must strip herself of all connections with humanity and rediscover her spiritual self. In some ways, this separation from society may be her punishment for the passion that elevated Rochester above God in her imagination and for her near participation in a bigamous relationship. Nature becomes Jane’s mother, and she seeks repose at this great mother’s breast. For her, nature is “benign and good,” a safe mother who loves Jane, even though she’s an outcast. Closely aligned with nature is God, whom Jane realizes is everywhere: At those moments when closest to nature, “we read clearest His infinitude, His omnipotence, His omnipresence.” Like nature, Jane’s God is filled with bounty, compassion, and forgiveness. The difference between Jane’s loving God, and the malicious, demanding Christ of Mr. Brocklehurst or Eliza Reed is apparent. Nor is Jane’s God similar to Helen Burns.’ While Helen’s God taught her to savor heaven over earth, Jane’s God is closer to a pagan spirit, who offers both spirituality and material comfort. Jane wishes she could live in and on the natural world, but she can’t. Instead, she must return to the company of humans to find food and permanent shelter. But her experience in the wilderness has begun to repair her damaged spirit.
